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Avalanche Forecast

Jan 24th, 2023–Jan 25th, 2023
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Regions: East Island, North Island, South Island, Vancouver Island, West Island.

Warm weather and sunny skies are going to change the snowpack rapidly.

Take extra caution on steep slopes in full sun.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Sunday's MIN reports show interesting slab properties that occurred during skiing. Check the embedded MIN for a review.

On Saturday, a small (size 1) avalanche was observed in the Beaufort range.

Remember that even a small loose wet avalanche can push a rider into or over a terrain trap, such as a cliff or gulley feature.

Snowpack Summary

The upper snowpack consists of 30-60cm of storm snow that has been redistributed primarily by northwest winds at alpine and treeline. This snow will rapidly settle and become heavy with today's warming event. This overlies a pronounced melt-freeze crust that can be found at elevations 1500 m and below. Above 1500 m the melt-freeze crust begins to lose strength and is less than 1 cm thick.

The mid and lower snowpack remains moist and is generally well-settled and dense.

Snowpack depths are highly variable and have been recorded between 200 and 300 cm, the consistent theme is that they taper quickly as you descend. While the snowpack in most forested areas below treeline remains below threshold depths, expect features such as steep cliffs, and open alpine-like features to have the potential to produce avalanches.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night

Cloudy, northwesterly winds 40 km/h, treeline temperature 0°C, freezing level rising to 2500 m.

Wednesday

Mainly sunny with possible marine fog layer, no new precipitation, northwesterly winds 40-50 km/h, treeline temperature 5°C, freezing level 3000 m.

Thursday

Mainly sunny, trace precipitation, northwesterly winds building through the day 50 km/h, treeline temperature 5°C, freezing level 2500 m

Friday

Mix of sun and cloud, trace precipitation, northwesterly winds easing to 30 km/h, treeline temperature 1°C, freezing level 2000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid steep slopes when air temperatures are warm, or solar radiation is strong.
  • The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.
  • Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

Winds slabs may still exist in specific terrain features just below ridge crests

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 1.5

Loose Wet

This warming event in combination with yesterday's rain event will promote pinwheeling, and wet snow sliding on the crust below.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.

Likelihood: Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 1.5